EM News 2017

Distributor says its job is to ‘make it easy to get into this business‘

This was the scene at Equipment Marketers, Cherry Hill, N.J., as the commercial laundry distributor opened its doors and welcomed customers to its 24th Annual Commercial Laundry Trade Show. (Photo: Equipment Marketers)

CHERRY HILL, N.J. —

Commercial laundry distributor Equipment Marketers, which has been doing business in the Mid-Atlantic region since 1945, hosted its 24th Annual Commercial Laundry Trade Show on May 4 here at its headquarters. Theme for the event was “Learn, Engage, Succeed!”

The trade show drew hundreds of attendees, the majority being area self-service laundry owners, to see the latest equipment and to learn more about their business and how to make it more successful, Equipment Marketers reports. More than 25 vendors exhibited equipment and other products.

In surveying attendees, the distributor found they came to see the newest commercial laundry models available (56%), network with other laundry owners (47%), attend one or more business seminars (40%), benefit from limited-time equipment or parts sales (42%), gain service advice from seminars held throughout the event (40%) or ask questions of technicians available for one-on-one training (33%).

Among the seminars offered, most popular amongst attendees were How to Become a Better Laundry Operator, presented by Eastern Funding’s Brian Grell; What is Your Laundromat Worth?, presented by John Culberson, CPA from Bowman & Co.; and How to Negotiate the Best Lease for Your Commercial Property, presented by commercial real estate attorney Edward Hovatter, the distributor says.

“Owning a self-service laundry is like a franchise without the franchise fees,” says Dick LaMaina, president of the distributorship. “Equipment Marketers can recommend equipment, store location and design, and facilitate financing. Our job is to make it easy to get into this business.”

The distributor has already scheduled its 2018 Trade Show and Service Seminar for May 3, 2018.